Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival. —Winston Churchill
Leaders know what it takes to survive conflict and win the prize. The committed leader enters the battle, and risks everything, because he seeks the victory for God and for the people he serves.
The two major arenas in which a leader must battle are the internal and external.
First, James amplifies the importance of the internal battle.
James 3:12-4:1 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. 13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
A leader will commit to win the internal conflict so he can lead with humility and wisdom. A leader will commit to the fierce fight against selfish ambition. The committed leader knows that victory will be demonstrated through his, or her, peaceful actions, gentle demeanor, and reasoned insight.
Second, Paul details the external battle against those who seek to harm both the individual follower of Jesus and His Church.
Philippians 1:27-2:2 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. 2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
The committed leader embraces conflict without fear and conducts himself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. He does not enter the battle alone, but strives against the enemy while relying on the strength of a unified Family that remains firmly committed to the purpose of Jesus Christ.
In the center of the whirlpool,while the waters rush around,There’s a space of perfect stillness,though with turmoil it is bound;All is calm, and all is quiet,scarcely e’en a sense of sound.So with us—despite the conflict—when in Christ His peace is found.
–Author Unknown
Go back to the DNA of Commitment
From 1971 to 1983, Archie Bunker, played by Carrol O’Conner, became America’s most infamous icon of bigotry. Norman Lear, the producer of All in the Family, used Archie to create a caricature of what he perceived to be the typical white Christian Republican. The opening song to All in the Family lamented Archie’s desire for the “good old days” when men like him dominated the culture. In watching reruns of this show, I noticed Archie Bunker has an amazingly consistent system of theology rooted mostly in half-truths. Here are some of the entertaining comments from Archie that illustrate well his populist faith.
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